Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-05
the guarantees of good government

repeal of the internal-revenue system,
a relic OF the war. and no longer ne
cessary 10 meet the demands OF the
Government, because it is oppressive,
fosters monopolics, and is obnoxious to
the interests Of our people.
TARIFF.
Third. We favor raising the revenue
requisite for the support of the Fede-
ral Government by tariff upon I'M
ports, limited to the necessities of the
Government economically admins
tered. and so adjusted in its application
as TO prevent unequal burdens. encOGr-
age productive interests at home, the
development of our material resources,
and afford just compensation to labor,
hut not TO foster monopolies.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
Fourth We approve the action of
Tie last General Assembly at its extra
session in 1887 in refusing to accept
the terms proposed by the bondhold-
crs in connection with n settlement of
The public debt. The Democratic party
will never support or sanction any adj
justmeut of the debt which shall i'm
pose a lorgcr liability upon this Com
monWcalth than that recognized and
provided for by the Riddleberger bill.
and We pledge the party to enact az
laws necessary to render said settle
ment effective, final, and decisive.
FEDERAL AID.
Fifth. The Democratic party pledges
itself TO urge upon Congress the justice
Of IFS practical recognition of Vir-
ginia's equitable demands for compen
sation for her past munificent addition
to tie territory Of the Federal Govern
mCnt, and also for loss to Virginia for
dismembcfmcnt OF her territory and
consequent reduction Of her tax
able values in order that the
fund Justly due Virginia from
this source may be available TO
aid in relieving the taxpayers from
the burdens of her present tinan
clal difficulties. We reassert the
determination of the party to literally
provide for our disabled soldiers, and
declare that in the future the State
should provide for the INDECENT widows
Of soldiers who fell on the field OF
battle or died from the effect of wounds
received in defence of the State.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Sixth. The Democratic party founded
and organized the pubIic-school system
Of Virginia, and has adopted every
measure which has been passed to So
cure its efficiency, and we pledge the
panty to its continued support until
every child in the Commonwealth, of
whatever race or color, may secure the
benefits Of free education, and We ear
nestly advocate liberal appropriation by
the Federal Government ont of the na-
,ional revenues in aid Of the education
Of the children of the several States IN
proportion to illitcracy in accordance
with the provisions Of the Blair bill or
some better measure.
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
Seventh. That the Democratic party
will foster, encourage, and protect the.
agricultural interests of Virginia, and
believe that the success Of that interest
is the foundation of the States pros
pority.
Eighth. The Democratic party has al
ways been the friend of the lahoring-
man and recognizes labor as wealth, and
it shall be its duty in tho future as it
has been in the past to elevate,
dignity, and sustain it, and it stands
pledged to prevent, as far as practical
bic, the conflict of convict labor with
the honest labor of our mechanics and
other working citizens. We are unal-
tcrably opposed to the introduction OF
foreign pauper labor into this country,
and we request the Congress of the
United States TO pass such laws as will
prevent the immigration of such peO-
pie, who will become burden upon
the taxpayers of this country, or will
come in competition with honest Anne
Iican laborors.
We favor the gathering of statistics
by the labor bureau of the United
States, and if not done by that the
establishment of labor bureau to in
vcstigatc questions which tend to the
elevation of the laboring class. The
public lands, the Heritage of the pco-
pie, shall he held for actual settlers
no more grants TO railroads or specula-
tors, and we want lands held for specu-
latiyc purposes according to value.
Resoir,d, That we endorse and
heartily approve the wise and judicious
administration Of Fitzhugh Lee as Gov
ernor of Virginia. We deprecate the
payment of any taxes or dues to the
Commonwealth i'll coupons as unwise
and unpatiiotic, and We call upon the
tax payers Of the state TO refuse to take
this advantage of the Commonwealth.
The people have the absolute
control and the decision of the
debt question in their own hands. If
they will persevere in the patriotic
policy which has cl aracterized the
greater portion of the taxpayers OF the
Commonwealth for the last four years
they Will soon offcctually accomplish a
settlement of this vexed question. We
appeal TO the taxpayers to stand by the
State III this contest.
We earnestly deprecate the present
unnecCssaryabsoIption in the Treasury
OF The United States of the currency
of the country in the shape of revenues
collected and withheld from circula-
ton as unjust, unwise, and dangerousto
the continued prosperity of the people,
and we respectfully invoke such action
by the legislative and executive depart
mcnts of the Federal Government rs
will prevent and avert the injuries and
dangers referred to.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the prott ctiOn and fostering care OF the
oyster industry Of tho State.
Ex-AttOrney-General j. G. Field
moved that the several sections Of the
platform be voted on ScrjGtjm. This
suggestion seemed to meet with much
disapproyal. aud in explanation the
General said the only section he wanted
voted on separately was that III relation
to agricultural interests
So the convention voted on the plat
form with the exception of this sec
tom, adopting it unanimously, and
then adopting the one section with
only three or four dissenting votes.
The following resolution was then
proposed and adopted
CITY AND COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
RcSoIred, That the State Central
Committee be authorized to adopt a
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